Sunday, December 30, 2012

2013 - Ready or Not . . . Here I Come!

Good-bye 2012.  Hello 2013.  

I already know change lies ahead, in all walks of my life.  Sigh - I experienced a lot of change these past couple of years.  I hoped 2013 would be a year of calm.  Ha! All signs indicate this will not be the case.  Oh well.

I truly wish I had profound words to write.  They might make me feel better or make me feel super prepared for what lies ahead.  :o)  Instead, I'll share some quotes which I've been pondering of late.  Some make sense to me already.  Others I still feel I'm uncovering their meanings.  I hope they bring encouragement to your heart.
  • “Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow.” (Mary Anne Radmacher) 

  • Winston Churchill is credited with saying "Never, Never, Never Quit."  His speech from Harrow School actually contained these lines, "never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."   

  • "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'". (GOD via Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)

  • "I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflections." (Thomas Paine)

  • "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

  • "Whatever your sex or position, life is a battle in which you are to show your pluck, and woe be to the coward. Whether passed on a bed of sickness or a tented field, it is ever the same fair play and admits no foolish distinction. Despair and postponement are cowardice and defeat. Men were born to succeed, not to fail." (Henry David Thoreau)

  • "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." (Joshua 1:9)

  • "Courage is not limited to the battlefield or the Indianapolis 500 or bravely catching a thief in your house. The real tests of courage are much quieter. They are the inner tests, like remaining faithful when nobody's looking, like enduring pain when the room is empty, like standing alone when you're misunderstood." (Charles Swindoll)

  • "Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!" (Psalm 27:14)

  • "Courage is being scared to death—but saddling up anyway." (John Wayne)

An adventure begins.  2013 - Ready or Not . . . Here I Come!

 

 

Monday, September 3, 2012

Life, Change, and all that other stuff

This summer has been one of significant learning and change for me.  I have to say it started with a retreat weekend the last weekend in July, which I shall forever consider a milestone event in my life.  Significant personal and spiritual revelations.  The uncovering of lies and courage to embrace freedom.  (Yes, I know I'm not being specific, but the experience was deeply personal and not something I wish to blog about casually.)

And then August
- HMR (Health Management Resources) Health program resulting in weight loss, increased endurance, and hope for a healthy and life filled future :o)
- Implementing/ leading change at work
- And an announcement that I'm leaving Greenlee Louisville and relocating to Illinois.  Greenlee is moving me to become the Plant Manager at their Genoa, Illinois facility.  New challenges and increased responsibilities.
- A letter was written and mailed - a hard letter, but needful one.  Believing this situation will be yet another example of God working all things together for good.

So September is going to contain more change
- Projects to start and close out at Louisville
- Continued journey with HMR
- And mentally preparing for a new home, a new job

And October
- New job, starting October 1
- Moving to someplace in Illinois - where exactly TBD - but it will be in the Rockford/ Genoa area.  Praying for wisdom on whether I should buy or rent.
- HMR phase 2 (where I introduce lean meats and grains into the diet)
- And the beginning of building a new life for myself in Illinois. 

Life, change, and all that other stuff . . . :o)

Thursday, July 19, 2012

The Diet - Food Style Change

Tuesday evening this week I attended a class - a weight loss program at my gym.  My doctor recommended strongly that I join some program in order to lose weight and reduce my cholesterol.  It took me a few months to come to terms with the fact that I had to do this, make a dramatic change in my eating habits.  So, I joined the HMR program.  http://www.baptistmilestone.com/weight-loss/

Phase 1 is 13 weeks.  3 Shakes, 2 Entrees (made by HMR), and min of 5 fruits and veggies.  Believe you me, I am eating more than 5 fruits and veggies.  You want all the food you can get.  No breads, no sugar, minimal caffeine, and stay in the box - no cheating!!  It is about 1250 calories.  I can drink more of the shakes if I'm hungry.  The goal is to break the bad habits, and dig right in to teaching your body not to crave unhealthy food. 

It is a regime change for me.  No to much a diet, but rather a Food Style change.  After 20+ years of eating what I wanted, it is time for self-control. 

This will not be easy.  But, I know it is time.  Join me in praying for strength and endurance!  Thanks.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Question of the Day: "Are you married?"

Do I have something written on my forehead, which says, "This woman is single.  Talk to her about marriage?"  It started this morning with the Hertz bus driver.  The initial questions were general enough - I expect ones he asks just about everyone who climbs on his bus wanting a ride from Hertz drop off to O'Hare - How are you?  Where are you heading?  Where are you from?  And then the surprise bonus question - "Are you married?"  Now my standard reply to that particular questions is, "I haven't met Mr. Right, yet."  To my surprise the conversation continued.  Roosevelt (the driver) told me, "not to worry.  It would happen.  I was young with lots of time left."  As I got off the bus, he reminded me, "Make sure you marry someone who will take care of you.  Even better, a partnership where you take care of each other."

Fast forward through my day.  6:00pm I'm home crashed on my couch watching a movie and there is a knock on my front door.  At the door is a salesman - Ahmad ? - who is part of a Fresh Start program selling magazines.  Side note - I get suckered into these buy 3 magazine deals about every 10 years.  So, it was time :o)  Anyway, Ahmad was all kinds of nice and a mouth filled with flattery.  (Oh yes, I know this is all part of the sales pitch.) In fact, he offered to marry me on the spot once he knew I was single.  Ahmad assured me that I was exactly his type of woman and that my freckles (which I believe he also called tiger stripes) were "cute."   I laughed, bought the 3 magazines, and wished him well on his life journey.

So, I want to know, is there something written on my forehead?  Because two times in the same day feels a bit excessive to get the "Are you married" question.  Oh well, I hadn't been asked in a while, so perhaps my standard answer needed some practice and polish.  Who knows perhaps Mr. Right will be asking the question one day soon :o) 

P.S.  I learned today from Ahmad that I have an accent.  Guess after listening to the drawl of the average Kentuckian, my fast paced "California Girl" manner of speaking sounded pleasing to his ear. 

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Bucket List: Buy A Car by Myself

Strike this off the bucket list - buying a car by myself.  Today, this was accomplished.  Balding Civic was traded in for a 2012 Ford Fusion.  I didn't haggle as much as probably I should, but I got more money than expected on my trade in, I am below the monthly payment target I set for myself, and my cover has excellent coverage - warranties and maintenance for several years.  Oh and 0% APR and now down payment - Ford is making way for the 2013 model.

I felt like crying a little when I drove away and left Balding Civic parked by the curb.  14 years old in June, 215,990 miles!  Oh my.  Road trips, commutes (I do not miss the I-15 corridor), traffic jams, long drives without cruise control, and the mini-road trip with the Martinelli kids asking about the funny knob things in the back (aka the handles to roll down the windows!)

Thank you, Balding Civic, for the memories!

The Bucket List

Friday, July 6, 2012

The Bucket List

So, I've been thinking about Bucket Lists lately.  No nothing terrible is going on.  I am just more of a talker/ planner instead of a doer. I want to change -  to switch from being a talker only.  Making "to do" lists help me stay on track at work, and I figured a bucket list would serve the same purpose in my personal life.

The List (subject to change - removals and additions)
  • Hike Half Dome in Yosemite
  • Get a tattoo
  • Check out the TT race in person on the Isle of Man (I just watched an HBO special and HOLY SMOKES this is something I need to see in person)
  • Spend a week in Paris (perhaps after the TT race????)
  • Take a cruise starting in Portugal with ports of call throughout the Mediterranean (This is my DREAM vacation)
  • See the Nutcracker Ballet with a LIVE Orchestra
  • Experience a play on Broadway
  • New Years Eve in New York City
  • New Years Eve someplace exotic (destination TBD)
  • Drink Guinness at the source in Ireland
  • Go to a classic rock concert (could I travel back in time to the late 80s??)
  • Fall in love with the right guy
  • Vacation on Turtle Island
  • Buy a new car by myself (silly, perhaps, but I am intimidated by doing this on my own)
    • COMPLETED July 7, 2012! 2012 Ford Fusion (The Silver Knight)
  • Lose 135-150lbs (there - it is out there in black and white).  Goal weight 140-155lb
  • Start, own, and run my own consulting business - Goal:  Helping American Manufacturing compete on a global level.  (Yes, I believe it is possible.  Everything DOES NOT need to move offshore.)
  • Own my own house
  • Find an artistic outlet I love
  • Learn to Box (Actually in process)
  • Ride rapids (preferably in some type of boat)
  • Hot Air Balloon Ride
  • Wear a bikini (just once - with my fair skin someone will have to COAT me in sunscreen)
  • Teach business strategy (goes with the consulting business)
  • Visit a rainforest and ride one of those ziplines
  • More to come . . .